USVI-On-Line

Let's say, just go with me here with my wild imagination, that the airline industry goes crazy and it ends up costing a couple thousand for a ticket to get to my preciouse VI, what are our other options for getting there? I've wasted a couple hours this morning already googling passenger freighters and there's not much in the caribbean that I can see. Do you think the cruise ship industry could, would, move in the direction that you could buy one-way tickets to a port, stay for a week or so, then buy another one-way back to the mainland? I know, I know. I'm crazy. Desperate times would call for desperate measures. I would actually get on a cruise ship if it was my only way to get to the Islands!

Get yourself a frequent flier credit card!! My husband and I haven't paid for a flight to St John in years. There are so many ways to get extra miles through the year that you can get enough to get you 2 free tickets a year.

Interesting question. I think I recall reading once about a low budget cruise ship someone was trying to get off the ground where you'd pay by the night, food/service would be a la carte, with the idea being you could do exactly what you describe of spending some time at a particular port and hop back on next time around.

Caveat 1... Don't know what TSA/Homeland Security would think about this subject because it opens up issues.

Caveat 2... Presumably the airline cost would go up largely as a result of fuel prices (though the industry in general hasn't been profitable and has overcapacity, so just getting their business model together could bring about an increase in fares), but ships need fuel, too. Don't know how the numbers compare as far as fuel/person/distance. Presumably those prices would increase as well.

I have a capitol one card and i get a couple flights to stt a year with that. I was just using my wild imagination to see if there would ever be potential to travel other ways than by air, if it ever came to that.

I would expect that as ticket prices for flights rise, so will the number of miles needed for reward tickets.

I am with Jumbie girl. I have used 7 rt tickets so far on Delta with FF miles (two trips - May 05 and November 07) and just booked 3 more FF tickets for August 08.

Hopefully by the time we need to book for June 09 we should have enough for 4 more (currently have enough for almost 3).

I charge EVERYTHING to my amex and if there is one benefit to gas prices being outrageous - I get 2x miles on all gas purchases. It adds up fast.

And Augie you are right - they have gone from 30K for skysaver seats to the caribbean to 35K. Still can't be beat.

Maybe I was thinking more like 10 years from now. I read an article today that quoted SWA co-founder talking about airline travel could return to the era of the 50's and 60's when air travel was for the wealthy or business travelers.
I imagine if it were to ever return to that old-era, then the industries would adjust and was curious if anyone thought arriving by boat would be a more readily accessible option....

I'm pretty sure if it comes to that, you'll be able to book passage on Rick & Sweet Christine's STJ Sailing Charter service!

gymnastika wrote:Maybe I was thinking more like 10 years from now. I read an article today that quoted SWA co-founder talking about airline travel could return to the era of the 50's and 60's when air travel was for the wealthy or business travelers.
...

I hope the Richard Bransons of the world and their airlines' newer, more efficient, less fuel-hungry planes will keep us all traveling. I think/hope the industry will feel enough pressure to replace aging, fuel-guzzling fleets with more effecient planes. And if they want to limit weight and fuel usage by limiting my luggage, fine by me. I don't need alot of stuff on vacation, I just want to go!

Solar powered dirigible! 90 knots gets you there from Miami over night.

Cheers, RickG

California Girl wrote:Considering Richard Branson owns an island in the VI's, I'm surprised there aren't any Virgin America routes to the islands yet!

He probably has only applied for permits a decade or so ago, so soon come!

I say all the forum regulars get together when they're ready to sail and book a boat together- we'll go in shifts!

I'm in! Tell me when we're sailing! Painkillers and Carib's for everyone!!